Hello. I have been thinking about an ESR for a long time, and spent about 3 years working part-time a few years ago. I have been full time for the last 2 years, and I look forward to going ESR in the future. My SO currently works 2 (12 hour) shifts a week. I actually enjoy my job, I just enjoy all the other things I do with my time more. I am 36 and expect to be SR for many years (maybe to 67, maybe later, maybe earlier.) As it is we are very "sustainable" on our current income. Able to save 20% in our 403b's, mortgage free, spend what we want (not what he wants on our teenager (surf camp, snowboarding, etc.) My goal is freedom and travel. I want to have the money and time to travel, which I really haven't done much of (my son hates to travel and manages to make everyone miserable when we do go anywhere.) But he will turn 18 in 3 more years, and I will have a lot more freedom then.
I am focusing on ESR instead of ER b/c I don't want to wait that long. I could retire to poverty pretty soon, but that isn't my dream. And the idea of saving $2,000,000 sounds VERY longterm. In 4 years (no debt, no high schooler) my SO and I could probably both go 1/2 time and be comfortable on that (approx $70,000 in todays dollars.) If that is too optimistic we could just pick-up more shifts. And if my juvenile delinquent gets accepted into Harvard, ("Pls god if you just let my kid graduate from high school, I'll never eat chocolate cake again." ) then I will happily work more to support him until he is 22. JK, he's actually a fabulous kid, just a lot more likely to go into a trade, or the military, than sit in a room reading books.
I am enjoying reading this forum. We already have started on our plan, but we need to make some decisions now. Most importantly, should I go back to school and get a masters in nursing? Pay doesn't improve much(approx 20%), but the job might. It would also make it easier as I get older to do my job. I can run for 12 hours at a time now, but at 60 yo? Also, I would like to have at least a masters for me. Most of my family have Ph.d's or MA's. None of them care what I do, they all think I am "good enough." The issue is I am not all that interested in nursing. I like the job, but not so much nursing school. If I just wanted to go to school it would be in economics, or poli sci, or religion.
Gardener
I am focusing on ESR instead of ER b/c I don't want to wait that long. I could retire to poverty pretty soon, but that isn't my dream. And the idea of saving $2,000,000 sounds VERY longterm. In 4 years (no debt, no high schooler) my SO and I could probably both go 1/2 time and be comfortable on that (approx $70,000 in todays dollars.) If that is too optimistic we could just pick-up more shifts. And if my juvenile delinquent gets accepted into Harvard, ("Pls god if you just let my kid graduate from high school, I'll never eat chocolate cake again." ) then I will happily work more to support him until he is 22. JK, he's actually a fabulous kid, just a lot more likely to go into a trade, or the military, than sit in a room reading books.
I am enjoying reading this forum. We already have started on our plan, but we need to make some decisions now. Most importantly, should I go back to school and get a masters in nursing? Pay doesn't improve much(approx 20%), but the job might. It would also make it easier as I get older to do my job. I can run for 12 hours at a time now, but at 60 yo? Also, I would like to have at least a masters for me. Most of my family have Ph.d's or MA's. None of them care what I do, they all think I am "good enough." The issue is I am not all that interested in nursing. I like the job, but not so much nursing school. If I just wanted to go to school it would be in economics, or poli sci, or religion.
Gardener